Reading's police chief said he has no plans for bobbies to always patrol alone in his patch following a recent address from the UK’s most senior policeman.

Superintendent Steve Kirk, Reading’s local policing area commander, was speaking after Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson urged officers to patrol singly rather than in pairs to cover more ground and become more approachable.

But he added they should not patrol alone in risky situations.

Supt Kirk said it was about finding a balance between patrolling methods to suit the town’s and officers’ best interests.

He also said there was no neighbourhood in Reading where police needed to double up for safety having patrolled on foot on his own in Reading.

“Overall it’s a mixed process and I don’t agree that all police officers should be paired up all the time or that they should all patrol on their own, it’s a balance,” he said.

“There’s no reason why officers can’t patrol on their own and in Reading we have been doing this for a number of years, in particular with the neighbourhood specialist officers (NSOs).

“All officers are fully trained in officer safety techniques and they all have the same equipment. I believe both types of patrolling have their benefits.

“When people patrol singularly they are more approachable and more proactive than when they have support, but when it gets dark we tend to double up so there is definitely a balance to be had.”

Officers have been patrolling the streets in pairs for the last 20 years but in a recent address to 2,000 staff and officers Sir Paul urged for a “cultural shift” in policing.

Councillor Tony Page, deputy leader of Reading Borough Council and Reading’s representative on Thames Valley Police Authority said it was “horses for courses”.

“There will be some areas where it will be more appropriate to have one officer or two, but really it’s down to operational policies as well,” he said.

“There is also the debate in the way that PCSOs are used and it may be appropriate sometimes for one officer and a PCSO to be on patrol rather than two officers.

“I don’t think it is particularly relevant for Reading though.

“We have Neighbourhood Policing Teams consisting of NSOs and the way in which they are deployed is something that’s dealt with at a local level by the relevant officer in charge of the neighbourhood.”